Review: Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg

12/01/201929/01/2020 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg is a collection of short reflections on writing designed to help you become a better writer. The advice and inspiration is rooted in the practice of Zen but you don’t need to know anything about Buddhism to benefit from it. There are many similarities… Continue reading Review: Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg

The book that wouldn’t die: A History of The Shining Ones

28/08/201720/02/2018 Jessica Davidson2 Comments

I’m amazed to announce The Shining Ones is finished – well, apart from a final polish edit and proof. No matter how many times I tried to kill this book, it wouldn’t die, which is appropriate because it features characters who are reborn from long ago – but that’s a spoiler so forget I said… Continue reading The book that wouldn’t die: A History of The Shining Ones

Writing

Backwards in the Dark: Reconnecting with my Writing

21/08/201720/02/2018 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

I’m at that tricky, frustrating, and frankly boring phase of the writing process with The Shining Ones – editing. So I wanted to get back in touch with my ‘real’ writing – see if I can remember why I started down this path in the first place. And this is the perfect time – what… Continue reading Backwards in the Dark: Reconnecting with my Writing

Writing

Natalie Goldberg on the Loneliness of Writing

14/08/201726/06/2020 Jessica Davidson2 Comments

Sometimes I wonder why I continue to write, especially when it seems to take me away from other people. The more I dig into myself, the wider the chasm between us. Do words make any difference? Can they bridge the gap? Is that even possible? Here’s a reminder from Natalie Goldberg that loneliness isn’t necessarily… Continue reading Natalie Goldberg on the Loneliness of Writing

Free Your Pen

Review: Free Your Pen – Eloquent & Profound!

30/07/201726/06/2020 Jessica DavidsonAside3 Comments

A big thank you to Claudia Durr for the first review of Free Your Pen – so glad to hear you’re enjoying the book! Here’s the review:

★★★★★ Eloquent, Simply profound! July 26, 2017

All I can say is WOW! This is exactly what I needed! The simple yet profound advice the author has to offer resonates with the essence of my being. I haven’t finished the book yet and don’t think I ever will. If this were in paper back vs. Kindle I could picture the softly worn and creased pages 20 yrs from now.

Thankfully, the book is available in paperback! Get your copy here and remember to leave your own review…

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Buddhism · Free Your Pen · Writing

Abandon Hope and other crazy advice

27/02/201720/02/2018 Jessica Davidson6 Comments

Today I’m celebrating the release of my latest book, Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. It’s been a long and convoluted journey, and for a while I thought this day would never arrive. I wanted to write the book for years. Life had other ideas, as life usually does. But the book is here,… Continue reading Abandon Hope and other crazy advice

Writing

Why Do Writers Write?

29/02/201626/06/2020 Jessica Davidson8 Comments

I know the exact day I became a writer. It was Friday 23rd April 2004 and I was walking to work. As I dodged the rush hour traffic, a story unspooled into my mind that was so compelling I knew I must write it down. I arrived at work, grabbed some paper and scribbled down… Continue reading Why Do Writers Write?

Writing

Proof that robots will never be authors

26/01/201626/06/2020 Jessica Davidson19 Comments

Here’s a randomly generated short story I created using Plot Generator – a site that lets you input various details and then creates a random story with your settings. You can use it to get inspiration or just to mess about and have a laugh. The results are proof that creative writing involves a little… Continue reading Proof that robots will never be authors

Writing

His Dark Materials: interview with Philip Pullman

14/12/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson

In this fascinating interview, Philip Pullman talks about His Dark Materials and some of the ideas in the books, including: loss of innocence, religion, William Blake, the oral tradition and why fairy tales differ from novels, plus a little dig at CS Lewis and Tolkien. Recorded at the Durham Book Festival in October this year.… Continue reading His Dark Materials: interview with Philip Pullman

Writing

Visionary Fiction: stories for growing minds

01/12/201509/06/2019 Jessica Davidson9 Comments

Visionary Fiction became a recognised fiction genre around the turn of the millennium, but stories using visionary elements have always existed. In fact, Visionary Fiction (VF) might be the oldest genre of storytelling. I first heard of VF when I was trying to decide which genre my debut novel fell into. Addled: Adventures of a… Continue reading Visionary Fiction: stories for growing minds

Writing

Writing Isn’t Like Making a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

14/09/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson4 Comments

“Every single time you sit down to write – a story, a poem, an essay, a novel – it will be a brand-new experience. No formula works. The mystery that solved your previous story doesn’t speak the same language as your current story. The key that unlocked the sonnet of yesterday won’t work today. Accept… Continue reading Writing Isn’t Like Making a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

Writing

David Foster Wallace on Writing & an old Chinese Tale

13/07/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson7 Comments

“I keep remembering this strange little story I heard in Sunday school when I was about the size of a fire hydrant. It takes place in China or Korea or someplace like that. It seems there was this old farmer outside a village in the hill country who worked his farm with only his son… Continue reading David Foster Wallace on Writing & an old Chinese Tale